Remote pericardial hemostasis for ventricular access and reconstruction or other organ therapies

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide devices, systems, and methods that reduce the distance between two locations in tissue, often for treatment of congestive heart failure. For example, an anchor of an implant system may, when the implant system is fully deployed, reside within the right ventricle in engagement with the ventricular septum. The anchor may be deployed into the heart through a working lumen of a minimally invasive access tool. The minimally invasive access tool may have a plurality of grippers near a distal end of the working lumen. The grippers may engage epicardial tissue of the heart and may be moved radially inwardly relative so as to provide stabilization of the epicardial tissue and / or hemostasis near an access site where the anchor is inserted through the epicardium. The minimally invasive access tool may minimize blood loss from the access site and improve anchor implant processes.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is related to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 541,975 entitled “Remote Pericardial Hemostasis for Ventricular Access and Reconstruction or Other Organ Therapies,” filed Sep. 30, 2011. This application is also related to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 541,624 entitled “Trans-Catheter Ventricular Reconstruction Structures, Methods, and Systems for Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure and Other Conditions,” filed Sep. 30, 2011; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 541,980 entitled “Over-The-Wire Cardiac Implant Delivery System for Treatment of CHF and Other Conditions,” filed Sep. 30, 2011; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 541,978 entitled “Cardiac Implant Migration Inhibiting Systems,” filed Sep. 30, 2011; the full disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.[0002]The subject matter of this applic...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention provides a minimally invasive access tool for engaging epicardial tissue of a patient's heart. The tool includes an elongate tool body with a working lumen and a gripping device near the distal end of the tool body. The gripping device can be attached to the epicardial tissue and contracted to stabilize or hemostasis of the heart around the intracardiac device. The tool can also include an arcuate suction channel with suction ports that can be attached to the epicardial tissue using suction. The invention allows for a safer and more efficient approach to performing medical procedures within the heart.

Problems solved by technology

However, in many cases congestive heart failure may be triggered by a heart attack or myocardial infarction.

Heart attacks can cause scar tissue that interferes with the heart muscle's healthy function, and that scar tissue can progressively replace more and more of the contractile heart tissue.

More specifically, the presence of the scar may lead to a compensatory neuro-hormonal response by the remaining, non-infarcted myocardium leading to progressive dysfunction and worsening failure.

People with heart failure may have difficulty exerting themselves, often becoming short of breath, tired, and the like.

The increased overall volume and higher intracardiac pressures result in congestion in the tissues.

Fluid may also collect in the lungs, interfering with breathing (especially when lying down).

Congestive heart failure may also be associated with a decrease in the ability of the kidneys to remove sodium and water, and the fluid buildup may be sufficient to cause substantial weight gain.

With progression of the disease, this destructive sequence of events can cause the progressive deterioration and eventual failure of the remaining functional heart muscle.

If the heart becomes sufficiently damaged, even more drastic surgery may be considered.

These surgical therapies can be at least partially effective, but typically involve substantial patient risk.

With congestive heart failure, the left ventricle often dilates or increases in size.

This can result in a significant increase in wall tension and stress.

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